Photorinser



Nov. 5, 1940. LE ROY G. WRIGHT PHOTORINSER Filed June 8, 1939 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTORINSER tion of New York Application June 8, 1939, Serial No. 278,033

15 Claims.

This invention relates to washing or rinsing devices and more particularly to rocking trays or rinsers for photo prints, films and other articles, though it is noted that in some of the claims the invention is not limited to photorinsers nor even to rocking trays.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic photorinser of this kind which will be automatic in opera-tion.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an extremely simple rinser which may be placed upon any flat support and automatically operated to fill and empty compartments of the tray merely by means of a stream of falling water, as from a faucet, and without additional apparatus.

Additional objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efiiciency of such devices and to provide an extremely simple device of this kind which is economical and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification and some of the claims, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with two examples of the photorinser, each of which briefly stated, includes a sheet metal tray comprising a bottom and side and end walls turned up from said bottom and leaving corner spaces forming discharge ports. A fulcrum is secured fast across the bottom face of the tray and comprising a web perpendicular to said bottom; and a deflector partition is disposed across the tray dividing the tray into compartments, the fulcrum approximately balancing the tray in unstable equilibrium, and cooperating with either end to hold the tray in inclined position.

If desired a resilient stop is secured under each end margin of the bottom, and the relative position and height of the fulcrum, stops and partition and the length of the tray are such that when the fulcrum and either stop rested on a flat surface with the bottom edge of the deflector about under the middle of a downward stream of water, the tray will be approximately balanced and the deflector bafile will direct water to fill the higher compartment until the latter is lowered by the weight of the water, causing the deflector to deflect Water to the other compartment to cause such end to lower in like manner, which operation is continued causing the tray to rock.

A rider baflle may be placed on the deflector partition, to receive the impact of and scatter the water to prevent injury to the prints or other articles being rinsed.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, three of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the rinser of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the rinser of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing another invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional View showing a modified form of fulcrum means; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing one member of said fulcrum means.

The photorinser of Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a tray ID of one-piece sheet metal. The tray comprises a rectangular bottom II and side and end walls l2, l3 of equal height, integral with, and turned up from, said bottom.

The end walls [3 are substantially as long as the bottom is wide; but the side walls [2 are less long than the bottom and terminate in approximately vertical edges l5 near but spaced from the adjacent end walls l3, said edges [5 being slightly upwardly inclined toward the end walls, thereby forming, at each corner, a nonclogging upwardly tapering corner discharge port I6 extending from top to bottom of the tray.

A sheet metal fulcrum I1 is disposed right angularly across the bottom face of the tray and comprises a web somewhat less high than said walls, disposed perpendicularly to said bottom and adapted to rest upon the bottom of a sink or other support I8, and provided at the upper part with right-angularly turned flanges I9, 20 secured by screw bolts 2| flat against said bottom face, the flanges to be turned in opposite directions and each extending about half the length of the web and secured to the bottom.

A deflector partition 25 considerably higher than the walls is disposed transversely across the tray substantially from side wall to side wall, and is provided with right angularly laterally turned bottom flanges 26, 21 resting on the bottom, each extending about half the length of the partition,

the flanges being turned in opposite direction and secured by screw bolts 28 passing through the bottom. Said partition 25 divides the tray into separate larger and smaller compartments 30, 3i which may be respectively used for larger or smaller prints, films or other articles to be rinsed. The relative sizes may be diiferent from that shown, and the compartments may be the same size, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

A mid point of each end margin of the bottom is provided with a round opening 33 adapted to receivethe neck 36 of a cylindrical stop 35 of rubber or other material associated with each opening, each stop having, on said neck fitting in the opening, a mushroom shaped head 36, slightly larger than the opening 33 and small enough to be forced through the opening, the lower part of the stop being extended enough to form a sound-deadening stop to limit the rocking movement of the tray and to hold the tray from contact with its support it.

The fulcrum ll approximately balances the tray in unstable equilibrium, and cooperates with either stop 35 to hold the tray in inclined stable position with the cooperating stop lowermost. The relative position and height of the fulcrum, stops and partition and the length of the tray is such that when the fulcrum and either bumper is rested ona flat surface, such as the bottom of a sink, with the bottom of the deflector partition about under the middle of a stream 38 of water from a faucet the tray will be approximately balanced and the deflector bafiie will be on one side of the stream and can be regulated to direct the water in the higher compartment faster than the corner ports it allow its escape, thereby causing the water to accumulate in the higher compartment, 35 (as shown by the full lines) until the latter is suddenly lowered by the weight of the water, thus making the other compartment 36 the higher and causing the deflector 25 to move to the position of the dotted lines to deflect substantially all the water to the then higher compartment 3B; whereupon the water collects in the then higher compartment 353 and runs from the then lower compartment 3!, causing the movements to be repeated alternately in opposite directions so long as the stream of water is supplied, thus rinsing the prints, fllms or other articles thoroughly with repeated changes of water.

A sheet metal rider-baffle id of inverted V- shaped cross section is adapted to be hung at its apex on the top edge of the deflector partition, the lower end part M of each arm of the bafiie being approximately horizontally outwardly inclined above said bottom l l to receive the impact of the stream it of waterandscatter the water to prevent injury to the prints, films or other articles being rinsed, v

The rinser of Fig. 4 is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3, except that the compartments 30', 3! are of the same size and the fulcrum web H and deflector partition are in substantially the same plane, the flanges 26, 2'? of the partition respectively registering with the flanges i9, 253 of the fulcrum, one set of screw bolts 28 passing through the bottom H and registering flanges i9, 28, 26, 27 for securing the partition and fulcrum in place, the single set of bolts thus serving a multiple function.

The extended height of the deflector bafile 25 over the side walls l2 and iii accomplishes the purpose of fully and more positively presenting a very pronounced water stream impact area, and thus insuring, during the rinsing operation,

that the vertical stream of falling rinse water flows fully to the uppermost section of the tilted tray, and obviating any flow of water to the lowermost tray section, until it is brought to its uppermost position.

In order to prevent possibility of undesirable noise from movement of the fulcrum ll on the sink or other support l8 during rocking, I provide one or more resilient U-shaped buffers 42,

which may, for instance, be made of molded rubber shaped as shown .and frictionally received and held on the fulcrum. The buffer may comprise a single buffer member extended substantially from end to end of the fulcrum, or may comprise. two short members received on the fulcrum near the ends thereof.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the fulcrum means fast on the lower face of the tray comprises a pair of approximate 6- members 41 of thin metal, which may be resilient, if desired, placed near opposite sides of the bottom face of the tray and each comprising an upright intermediate portion 48, an angularly turned lower end 49, and an. angularly turned upper end portion 56, the latter being secured to the bottom of the tray by means of bolts Eipassing through the bottom of the tray and said upper ends, for holding the members in place. Each of said lower ends 59 is provided with around opening in which engages the neck of a bufier of rubber or other suitable material having a cylindrical lower part 53 and an upper mushroom shaped head 54, slightly larger than the opening and small enough to be forced through the opening, said lower part being extended enough to provide, in cooperation with the C-members, a cushioning support for the tray to prevent chattering during use.

The buffers 42 and 53 and the stops 35 not only prevent undesirable noise, but prevent chipping and wear of sink linings of porcelain or other materials.

The invention claimed is:

1. A photorinser' including a tray comprising a bottom and side and end walls; the end portions of the tray having ports extending upwardly of the bottom of the tray; 2. fulcrum secured across the bottom face ofsaid bottom and comprising a web perpendicular to said bottom; 2. deflector partition disposed across the tray dividing the tray into compartments; said fulcrum approximately balancing the tray in unstable equilibrium, and cooperating with either stop to hold the tray in inclined position; the relative position and height of the fulcrum and partition and the length of the tray being such that when the fulcrum and either end rested on a flat surface with the bottom edge of the deflector about under the middle of a stream of water the tray will be approximately balanced and'the deflector baiiie will direct water to fill higher the compartment until the latter is lowered by the weight of the water, causing the deflector to deflect water to the other compartment.

2.'A one-piece sheet-metal tray comprising a rectangular bottom and side and end walls of equal height, integral with, and turned up from, said bottom; the end walls being substantially as long as the bottom 'is wide; the side walls being less long than the bottom and terminating in substantially vertical edges near but spaced from the adjacent end walls, thereby forming, at each corner, a corner port extending from topto bottom of the tray.

3. A photorinser including a one-piece sheet metal rocking tray comprising a rectangular bottom and side and end walls of equal height, integral with, and turned up from, said bottom; a deflector partition across an intermediate part of the tray; the end walls being substantially as long as the bottom is wide; the side walls being less long than the bottom and terminating in substantially vertical edges near but spaced from the adjacent end walls, said edges being slightly inclined toward the end walls, thereby forming, at each corner, a non-clogging upwardly tapering corner port extending from top to bottom of the tray.

4. A rinser including a rocking tray; a downwardly disposed fulcrum fast on the lower face of the tray and having a lower fulcrum edge; a deflector partition fast across the upper face of the bottom of the tray dividing the tray into compartments; said compartments having lower ports remote from the rocking axis; said deflector partition and said fulcrum each being provided with right-angularly laterally turned flanges engaged against the bottom, each extending about half the width of the bottom the flanges being turned in opposite direction, the flanges of the partition registering with the flanges of the fulcrum; and bolts passing through the bottom and registering flanges for securing the partition and fulcrum in place.

5. A rinser including a rocking tray; ports remote from the rocking axis; a deflector partition across the tray dividing the tray into compartments; the height of the partition being such that the deflector may pass substantially to either side of a falling stream of water during rocking of the tray; and a baffle to receive the impact of the water.

6. A rinser including a rocking tray having walls; ports remote from the rocking axis; a deflector partition higher than the walls and disposed across the tray dividing the tray into compartments; and a baffle on the deflector partition, to receive the impact of, and scatter, the water.

'7. A rinser including a rocking tray; a .deflector partition across the tray dividing the tray into compartments; the height of the partition being such that the deflector may pass substantially to either side of a falling stream of water during rocking of the tray; a sheet metal riderbafile of -shaped cross section adapted to hang at its apex on the top edge of the deflector partition, each arm of the baffie being approximately horizontally outwardly inclined above said bottom to receive the impact of the stream of water and scatter the water to prevent injury to the articles being rinsed.

8. In combination, a metal tray having a round opening in its bottom; and a member of rubber or other material associated with the opening, and having a cylindrical lower part, an upper neck fitting in the opening, and a mushroom shaped head, slightly larger than the opening and small enough to be forced through the opening, said lower part being extended enough to form a sound-deadening foot to hold the tray from contact with its support.

9. A rinser including a rocking tray having a transverse fulcrum; a deflector partition across the tray dividing the tray into compartments; each compartment having a lower port remote from the rocking axis; the height of the partition being such that the deflector may pass substantially to either side of a falling stream of water during rocking of the tray; and a resilient stop secured under each end of the tray.

10. A photorinser including a sheet metal tray comprising a bottom and side and end walls turned up from said bottom; the side walls terminating near but spaced from the end walls, thereby forming corner ports; a fulcrum secured across the bottom face of said bottom and comprising a web perpendicular to said bottom; a deflector partition disposed across the tray dividing the tray into compartments; said fulcrum approximately balancing the tray in unstable equilibrium, and cooperating with either stop to hold the tray in inclined stable position with the cooperating stop lowermost; the relative position and height of the fulcrum, stops and partition and the length of the tray being such that when the fulcrum and either bumper rested on a flat surface, such as the bottom of a sink, about under the middle of a stream of water from a faucet the tray will be approximately balanced and the deflector bafile will direct the water in the higher compartment faster than the corner ports allow its escape, thereby causing the water to accumulate in the higher compartment until the latter is suddenly lowered by the weight of the water, thus making the other compartment the higher and causing the deflector to deflect substantially all the water thereto; whereupon the water collects in the higher compartment and runs from the lower compartment, causing the movements to be repeated.

11'. A rinser including a rocking tray; a deflector partition across the tray near and longitudinal to the rocking axis and ports in the tray on opposite sides of said partition remote from the rocking axis; and a fulcrum fast on the tray and having a lower fulcrum edge, said rinser comprising a buffer or buffers on said fulcrum edge.

12. A rinser including a rocking tray; a downwardly disposed fulcrum means fast on the lower face of the tray; a deflector partition fast across the upper face of the bottom of the tray dividing the tray into compartments; said compartments having lower ports remote from the rocking axis; said fulcrum means comprising a pair of slightly resilient approximate C-members of thin metal, placed near opposite sides of the bottom face .of the tray and each comprising an upright intermediate portion, an angularly turned lower end, and an angularly turned upper end portion engaged with the bottom of the tray; bolts passing through the bottom of the tray and said upper ends, for holding the members in place; each of said lower ends being provided with a round opening; and a support of rubber or other material associated with each opening, and having a cylindrical lower part, an upper neck fitting in the opening, and a mushroom-shaped head, slightly larger than the opening and small enough to be forced through the opening, said lower part being extended enough to form a cushioning fulcrum support for the tray.

13. A photorinser including a rocking tray rockable on a transverse axis and comprising a rectangular bottom and side and end walls upstanding from said bottom; the side walls being less long than the bottom and terminating in approximately vertical edges near but spaced from the adjacent end walls, thereby forming, at each corner, a corner port; said ports being in the extreme outer corners of the tray, thereby preventing any margin from curving up and forming a closure to the port; said corner ports extending from top to bottom of the side walls, thereby providing an outlet for liquid between any sheets that may be disposed edgewise to any upper, lower or intermediate part of said port.

14. A photorinser including a rocking tray rockable on a transverse axis and comprising a rectangular bottom and side and end walls upstanding from said bottom; the end walls being substantially as long as the bottom is wide; one or more of the side walls being provided substantially at the corner of the tray with an upright tapering port, widest at the bottom, and extending from top to bottom of the side wall.

15. In a photorinser, a sheet metal rocking tray comprising a rectangular sheet metal bottom, and side and end walls integral with, and turned up from the bottom; adjacent end edges of adjacent walls being slightly spaced from each other to form a discharge port at a corner of the tray.

LE ROY G. WRIGHT. 

